Paper-blocking assembly and paper processing device using the same

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a paper-blocking mechanism and paper processing device using the same. The paper-blocking mechanism comprises a paper holder, a shaft connecting to a power source and driving a paper feeding portion, a restriction portion disposed on the shaft and moving between a first position and second position when the shaft is rotating, a paper blocking portion comprising a paper blocking plate and coupled to the paper processing device, wherein the restriction portion abuts the paper blocking plate to cause the paper holder in a paper blocking position when the restriction portion is in the first position, and the restriction portion doesn&#39;t abut the paper blocking plate to cause the paper holder in a paper feeding position when the restriction portion is in the second position.

This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 98110550, filed Mar. 30, 2009, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to automatic document feeder in paper processing device, and, more particularly, to paper-blocking mechanism in paper processing device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently, scanner, printer, and multi-function paper processing device are adopted automatic document feed as their basic configuration. Automatic document feed mechanism is usually adopted paper blocking mechanism to position the paper, and paper stopps at the appropriate position based on paper blocking mechanism. Thus, when feeding paper, it will not result in taking more than one sheets of paper at one time (multi feed) or will not get paper (miss feed).

The prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,013 provides a media blocking apparatus, including media block 50 and block lever 52. Block lever 52, including cam 80 driving by feed roll shaft 42, is used for moving said media block 50 between blocking and retracted positions upon rotation of the feed roll shaft 42. Cam 80 intermittently moves to achieve barricade 54 to leave paper path when feeding. Specifically, it should be configurated at least two power source for feeding and blocking paper. The system uses additional components, i.e. block lever 52, make the system complicated and the cost of the system increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides paper-blocking assembly and paper processing device using thereof. The paper-blocking assembly includes a paper holder, a paper blocking portion, a shaft and a restriction portion. The paper holds paper. The shaft derived by a power source, when the shaft rotates, the restriction portion moves between a first position and a second position and a paper feeding portion of the paper processing device feeds the paper. The paper blocking portion is rotatorily coupled to the paper processing device. The restriction portion abuts the paper blocking plate to cause the paper holder in a paper blocking position when the restriction portion is in the first position, and the restriction portion is away from the paper blocking plate to cause the paper holder in a paper feeding position when the restriction portion is in the second position and the paper feeding portion feeds the paper.

The invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of paper-blocking mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of paper-blocking mechanism in the paper blocking condition according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of paper-blocking mechanism in the paper feed condition according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of paper-blocking mechanism when paper are transporting into paper processing device;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of controlling paper processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of paper processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an embodiment schematically illustrating a paper-blocking mechanism. The paper-blocking assembly includes a paper holder 10, a paper blocking portion 30, a shaft 40 and a restriction portion 51. Paper holder 10 includes a support surface 16 extending between a receiving end 15 at which a stack of paper is inserted on paper holder 10 and a discharge end 17 from which individual pieces of paper are supplied into the paper processing device. Paper blocking portion 30 is disposed generally adjacent to discharge end 14 of support surface 16. Paper feeding portion 41 is coupled to shaft 40 via a gear set 42, and restriction portion 51 is disposed on shaft 40. Shaft 40 is connected to a power source such as, but not limited to, electric motor for rotating restriction portion 51 between a paper blocking position and a paper processing position.

The position of restriction portion 51 illustrated in FIG. 2 is referred to herein as the paper blocking position in which one portion of restriction portion 51 leans paper blocking plate 31. Therefore, paper is blocked by paper blocking plate 31. In a preferred embodiment, restriction portion 51 may present, but not limited to, a cam structure.

The position of restriction portion 51 illustrated in FIG. 3 is referred to herein as the paper processing position in which restriction portion 51 is away from paper blocking plate 31. In a preferred embodiment of present disclosure, restriction portion 51 and paper feeding portion 41 are drivingly coupled to shaft 40, therefore, restriction portion 51 is rotated to the paper processing position and individual pieces of paper are delivered singly by paper feeding portion 41 when shaft 40 is rotated in a clockwise direction.

Paper blocking portion 30 includes a paper blocking plate 31, a weight portion 33 and a pivot 32. Pivot 32 disposed between weight portion 33 and the paper blocking plate 31 such that paper blocking plate 31 can pivot freely on pivots 32 relative to support surface 16. When restriction portion 51 is away from paper blocking plate 31, paper blocking plate 31 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction into recess 20 such that paper can contact inclined surface 18 in a paper feed condition, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Moreover, during a stack of paper has been transported, paper blocking plate 31 is rotated in a clockwise direction to a position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, based on gravity of weight portion 33.

Referring to FIGS. 2 & 3, in one embodiment, restriction portion 51 is positioned at the paper blocking position and the paper processing position via a one-way spring 53 and shaft 40. Shaft 40 passes through one-way spring 53 and an end of restriction portion 51, and one-way spring 53 is coupled to restriction portion 51 and shaft 40. Further, a sleeve 52, driven together with shaft 40, is connected to one end of one-way spring 53. During the paper feed condition, shaft 40 is rotated in a clockwise direction, and restriction portion 51 is rotated from the paper blocking position to the paper processing position by a friction force provided by the one-way spring 53. In the meantime, shaft 40 is continuously rotated, in the clockwise direction, to drive paper feeding portion 41 for feeding paper, and restriction portion 51 maintains at the paper processing position when restriction portion 51 abuts stopper 43. Specifically, the resistive force of contact with stopper 43 is greater than the friction force provided by the one-way spring 53 so that restriction portion 51 maintains at the paper processing position, illustrated in FIG. 4.

As feed of the paper is completed, restriction portion 51 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction and from the paper processing position to the paper blocking position, such that one portion of restriction portion 51 leans paper blocking plate 31 to block the paper. Those skilled in the art will understand that one-way spring 53 has a release condition and a tighten condition, and one-way spring 53 is in the tighten condition when shaft 40 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 & 6, in one embodiment, paper-blocking mechanism can be used in paper processing device 60 including, but not limited to fax machine, scanner, multi-function printer and other paper processing device. Paper processing device 60, including a paper-blocking mechanism, a controller 12 and a power source 13, is able to operate between a paper blocking condition and a paper feed condition. When paper processing device 60 is the paper blocking condition, power source 13 is controlled by controller 12 for driving the shaft 40 to position restriction portion 51 at the paper blocking position at which restriction portion 51 leans paper blocking plate 31. When paper processing device 60 is the paper feed condition, power source 13 is controlled by controller 12 for driving the shaft 40 to position restriction portion 51 at the paper processing position at which restriction portion 51 is away from paper blocking plate 31. Thus, the paper can be transported into paper processing device 60 via paper feeding portion 41.

Additionally, paper processing device 60 further includes a paper sensor 11, disposed on paper holder 10 and coupled to controller 12, for detecting the paper. If paper processing device 60 is the paper feed condition and paper sensor 11 doesn't detect the paper, paper sensor 11 sends a control signal S1 to controller 12 for driving restriction portion 51 from the paper processing position to the paper blocking position. As operation mentioned in FIGS. 1-4, it is unnecessary to describe the specific details thereof.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures. 

1. A paper-blocking assembly for a paper processing device, comprising: a paper holder for holding paper; a shaft; a restriction portion disposed on the shaft, when the shaft rotating, the restriction portion moving between a first position and a second position and the shaft driving a paper feeding portion of the paper processing device; and a paper blocking portion comprising a paper blocking plate, the paper blocking portion rotatorily coupling to the paper processing device; wherein when the restriction portion is in the first position, the restriction portion abuts the paper blocking plate to make the paper blocking plate in a paper blocking position, and when the restriction portion is in the second position, the restriction portion is away from the paper blocking plate to cause the paper blocking plate in a paper feeding position and the paper feeding portion feeds the paper.
 2. The paper-blocking assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a one-way spring disposed between the restriction portion and the shaft, wherein the spring is in a release condition and a tighten condition by rotating the shaft at a first direction and a second direction respectively, wherein when the restriction portion is in the first position, the spring is in the tighten condition, and when the restriction portion is in the second position, the spring is in the release condition.
 3. The paper-blocking assembly according to claim 1, wherein when the restriction portion rotates from the first position to the second position, the restriction portion maintains at the second position and the paper feeding portion feeding paper.
 4. The paper-blocking assembly according to claim 3, further comprising: a stopper disposed at the second position; and an one-way spring disposed between the restriction portion and the shaft; and wherein when the restriction portion abuts the stopper, the restriction portion stops further rotating.
 5. The paper-blocking assembly according to claim 1, wherein the restriction portion is cam, a first end of the cam is coupled to the shaft, and a second end of the cam abuts the paper blocking plate at the first position for blocking feeding the paper.
 6. The paper-blocking assembly according to claim 1, wherein the paper holder comprises a recess therein and the paper blocking portion is adapted to be moved into the recess at the paper feeding position.
 7. The paper-blocking assembly according to claim 6, the paper blocking portion further comprising: a weight portion; and a pivot disposed between the weight portion and the paper blocking plate, wherein when the restriction portion is away from the paper blocking plate, the paper blocking plate moves to the paper blocking position based on the weight portion.
 8. The paper-blocking assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a gear set disposed between the shaft and the paper feeding portion.
 9. The paper-blocking assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a paper sensor, wherein the restriction portion is rotated from the second position to the first position when the paper sensor detects no paper.
 10. A paper processing device, comprising: a paper feeding portion; a paper holder for holding paper; a shaft; a restriction portion disposed on the shaft, when the shaft rotating, the restriction portion moving between a first position and a second position and the shaft driving the paper feeding portion; and a paper blocking portion comprising a paper blocking plate, the paper blocking portion rotatorily coupling to the paper processing device; wherein when the restriction portion is in the first position the restriction portion abuts the paper blocking plate to make the paper blocking plate in a paper blocking position, and when the restriction portion is in the second position, the restriction portion is away from the paper blocking plate to make the paper blocking plate in a paper feeding position and the paper feeding portion feeds the paper.
 11. The paper processing device according to claim 10, further comprising a one-way spring disposed between the restriction portion and the shaft, wherein the spring is in a release condition and a tighten condition by rotating the shaft at a first direction and a second direction respectively, wherein the spring drives the restriction portion in the first position when the spring is in the tighten condition, and the restriction portion is in the second position when the spring is in the release condition.
 12. The paper processing device according to claim 10, wherein when the restriction portion rotates from the first position to the second position, the restriction portion maintains at the second position and the paper feeding portion feeding the paper.
 13. The paper processing device according to claim 12, further comprising: a stopper disposed at the second position; and an one-way spring disposed between the restriction portion and the shaft; and wherein when the restriction portion abuts the stopper, the restriction portion stops further rotating.
 14. The paper processing device according to claim 10, wherein the restriction portion is cam, a first end of the cam is coupled to the shaft, and a second end of the cam abuts the paper blocking plate at the first position for blocking feeding the paper.
 15. The paper processing device according to claim 10, wherein the paper holder comprises a recess therein and the paper blocking portion is adapted to be moved into the recess at the paper feeding position.
 16. The paper processing device according to claim 15, wherein the paper blocking portion further comprising; a weight portion; and a pivot disposed between the weight portion and the paper blocking plate, wherein when the restriction portion is away from the paper blocking plate, the paper blocking plate moves to the paper blocking position based on the weight portion.
 17. The paper processing device according to claim 10, further comprising a gear set disposed between the shaft and the paper feeding portion.
 18. The paper processing device according to claim 10, further comprising a paper sensor, wherein the restriction portion is rotated from the second position to the first position when the paper sensor detects no paper. 